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What is a flight controls engineer and how to become one
Flight Control Engineers build and design the flight control systems of all kinds of aircraft. These are highly skilled professionals that have knowledge in multiple complex and technical practices, like software programming, data analysis, and aircraft construction. They work closely with the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to ensure compliance with their guidelines and follow the mandatory safety protocols. The FAA also provides Flight Control Engineers with licenses and certification to qualified candidates.
Most employers require their Flight Control Engineers to at least have a college diploma. We found that employed American Flight Control Engineers commonly hold degrees in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Electrical Engineering. Because this is such a high-skill job, many candidates take more time to establish their expertise by pursuing a Master's degree in those fields.
On average, Flight Control Engineers in the United States earn a yearly salary of roughly about $84,160. That's more or less $40 an hour.
What general advice would you give to a flight controls engineer?
Dr. Angela Rasmussen
Professor (Lecturer) Director of Mentoring and Advising Director of Electrical Engineering Senior Projects, University of Utah
Avg. Salary $99,619
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate 6%
Growth rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.30%
Asian 13.04%
Black or African American 4.14%
Hispanic or Latino 10.80%
Unknown 4.42%
White 67.29%
Genderfemale 9.28%
male 90.72%
Age - 43American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 43Stress level is manageable
7.1 - high
Complexity level is challenging
7 - challenging
Work life balance is fair
6.4 - fair
Key steps to become a flight controls engineer
Explore flight controls engineer education requirements
Start to develop specific flight controls engineer skills
Skills Percentages C++ 30.79% FAA 10.07% Flight Control Systems 7.97% Data Analysis 6.56% Aircraft Flight 5.31% Complete relevant flight controls engineer training and internships
Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New flight controls engineers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a flight controls engineer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real flight controls engineer resumes.Research flight controls engineer duties and responsibilities
- Lead redesign review for cyclic stick, composite to metal, (CATIA).
- Analyze and simulate suspension characteristics on MATLAB & CarSim for better ride performance.
- Generate FORTRAN code to determine hinge moments of the primary and secondary control surface actuators.
- Conduct thermal CAE analyses using RADTHERM and vehicle testing in support of design and development.
Apply for flight controls engineer jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a flight controls engineer job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How did you land your first flight controls engineer job
Are you a flight controls engineer?
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Average flight controls engineer salary
The average flight controls engineer salary in the United States is $99,619 per year or $48 per hour. Flight controls engineer salaries range between $75,000 and $130,000 per year.
What am I worth?
How do flight controls engineers rate their job?
Flight controls engineer reviews
Very hard job. Will definitely get home late and you have to be mega smart.
Updated January 8, 2025
